Automatic hopper gate lock

ABSTRACT

A hopper discharge arrangement includes a frame beneath a discharge opening with said frame slidingly supporting a gravity gate. The gate is movable to close the discharge opening and to one side thereof in the open position. An automatic lock includes a latch element which is movable with the gate, the said latch element having a pair of camming means. A latch member is pivotally connected to the frame and is adapted in the closed position of the gate to engage the latch element for securely locking said gate in its closed or transport position. A lever pivotally mounted on the frame is operatively connected to the latch member and upon movement of the lever to an over-center position the latch member is pivoted out of locking engagement with respect to the latch element. The gate is free to open and one of the camming means engages the latch member and trips the lever from its over-center position to a gravity drop position so that when the opening gate has moved out of the way of the latch member, the latch member returns to an original down or locked position. The latch member is now in position to be re-engaged by a second camming means on the latch element to again lock the same in a closed position.

United States Patent Marulic 1 51 Aug.8,1972

[ AUTOMATIC HOPPER GATE LOCK [72] Inventor: Walter J. Marulic, Gary, 1nd.

[731 Assignee: Pullman Incorporated, Chicago, 111. [22] Filed: Aug. 17, 1970 21 Appl. No.: 64,483

[52] US. Cl ..l05/282 R, 105/300, 105/306, 105/308 P, 105/308 B [51] Int. Cl. ..B6ld 7/20, B6ld 7/26, E05b 65/14 [58] Field of Search...105/282 R, 282 A, 282 P, 305, 105/308 R, 308 C, 308 E, 308 P, 308 A, 308

[56] I 3 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,035,530 5/1962 Meyers et a1 105/282 R x 2,891,816 6/1959 Meats ..l05/308 R x 2,644,408 7/1953 Dorey 105/282 A 3,536,013 10/1970 Nagy 105/308 R x Primary Examiner-Arthur L. La Point Assistant Examiner-Howard Beltran Attorney-l-lilmond O. Vogel [57] ABSTRACT A hopper discharge arrangement includes a frame beneath a discharge opening with said frame slidingly supporting a gravity gate. The gate is movable to close the discharge opening and to one side thereof in the open position. An automatic lock includes a latch element which is movable with the gate, the said latch element having a pair of camming means. A latch member is pivotally connected to the frame and is adapted in the closed position of the gate to engage the latch element for securely locking said gate in its closed or transport position. A lever pivotally mounted on the frame is operatively connected to the latch member and upon movement of the lever to an over-center position the latch member is pivoted out of locking engagement with respect to the latch element. The gate is free to open and one of the camming means engages the latch member and trips the lever from its overcenter position to a gravity drop position so that when the opening gate has moved out of the way of the latch member, the latch member returns to an original down or locked position. The latch member is now in position to be re-engaged by a second camming means on the latch element to again lock the same in a closed position.

8 Claims, 1 1 Drawing Figures P'A'TENTEBAHH I912 3.682.105

SHEET 1 0F 3 I INVENTOR WALTER J. MARUL/C i I WflMY PAT ENTEI J 8'97? 3,682,105

SHEET 2 OF 3 IN VENT OR WALTER J. MARUL/C Wwgw ATT' 1 PATENTED M 9 8 SHEET 3 [IF 3 INVENTOR WALTER J. MARUL/C SUMMARY It is a prime object of the present invention to provide an improved automatic lock for locking a discharge gate in a closed position without the necessity of the operator manually closing the lock after the gate has been manually moved to its closed position. In he transport position wherein the gate is closed it is imperative that a positive lock be provided independently of the actuating mechanism which moves the gate. The lock mechanism must be sufficiently effective to maintain the gate in a closed position at all times during transit so that accidental opening cannot occur by the loss of cargo if the gate inadvertently is opened. Gate locks have been provided which are effective to lock the gate in the closed position but they require both manual opening and closing of the locks in order to be effective. In the present arrangement the operator merely need see that the lock is open so that the gate can be moved to an open position and the said lock is automatically re-set to a position to inter-engage and again lock the gate when it is moved to its closed position. In the closed position a hingedly movable lock member has been moved into an engaged position with respect to a latch element on the gate and the same is thus positively held against opening. If it is desired to open the gate the operator merely moves a lever which swings the latch member to an open position with said lever being disposed in an over-center relation so that the gate can freely open. Prior to full opening, a camming device on a latch element connected to the gate engages the latching member to move the same thereby moving the lever to an over-center drop position whereupon, by gravity, the latch member is moved to a lock or re-set position. A second camming device on the latch element, during movement of the gate to its closed position, then engages the latch member to pivot the same momentarily whereupon, by means of BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of a gravity gate, partially in section, showing an improved locking mechanism therefor;

FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of a gravity gate actuating mechanism therefor and a locking arrangement;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view, with portions shown in section, of the gate mechanism shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a portion of a gravity gate and locking arrangement showing said arrangement in a locked position;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing a lever and actuating means positioned in an over-center position to provide for opening of the gravity gate;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing another stage in the operation of the opening gate in relation to a locking mechanism;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 7--7 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a detailed cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-8 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 99 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a view taken substantially along the line 10-10 of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 11-11 of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now particularly to FIG. 1, a discharge arrangement for hoppers 10 comprises a hopper structure 11 including a plurality of sloping walls 12 which are disposed in connected relation to provide a discharge opening. A frame 13 is disposed about the discharge opening in conventional fashion and includes vertical end walls 14 and side walls 15 suitably interconnected. The discharge arrangement 10 and framing 13 are of a design similar to that shown in assignee's copending patent application, Ser. No. 42,369 filed June 1, 1970. The side walls 15 are provided with horizontal ledges 16 and a ledge 17 is provided on one of the end walls 14 for supporting a gate 18 and particularly the leading end portion 19 of said gate 18. As shown in the aforementioned patent application, the gate is movable on said ledges 16 to an open position wherein said gate is disposed to one side of the discharge opening and material may be freely discharged by gravity from the hopper. Suitable stops 20 provided on the vertical end walls 14 position the gate 18 against vertical displacement. While FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 show only portions of the said gate arrangement the frame 14 is of course provided to extend around the discharge opening and the mechanism disclosed in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are symmetrical in that the said mechanism can be operated from opposite sides of a hopper car to which the present arrangement is particularly adapted. One end of the gate 18, as shown in FIGS. 1-3 is provided with laterally spaced horizontally extending walls 21 which may be integral with the side walls 15. A transverse frame member 22 connects the wall extensions 21 and an operating shaft 23 is supported on bearings 24 provided on opposite sides of the arrangement on the said extensions 21 to permit free rotating movement of the shaft 23. Sheaves 25 are connected for rotation to the operating shaft 23 and operating heads 26 are connected to the shaft 23 at opposite ends thereof, the said operating shafts 26 being conventional and being adapted to be manually en gaged by an operator for rotating the shaft 31 to efiectuate closing and opening of the gate 18. In the aforementioned patent application a complete gate is disclosed and such arrangement includes a shaft 23 disposed on each of the opposite ends of the arrangement, one of said shafts 23 being operative to open the gate and the other being operative to close the gate. Since the present invention is concerned with an automatic locking arrangement only one of the shafts 23 and sheaves 25 connected thereto have been disclosed. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, brackets 27 are connected to the underneath surface of the gate 18 and extend outwardly on opposite sides thereof. The brackets 27 have connected thereto chains 28, as best shown at 29 in FIG. 3.

As best shown in FIGS. 1-3 an automatic gate lock arrangement 30 is provided at one end of the gate arrangement. The automatic gate lock arrangement 30 includes two assemblies which are provided on opposite sides of the frame 13, the same being symmetrical and being arranged to provide for operation from both sides of the hopper 11 in a manner wherein both are actuated simultaneously. The automatic lock arrangement 30 comprises a shaft 31 rotatable in bearings 32 supported on the wall extensions 21. At each end of the shaft 31 a handle or actuating lever 33 is provided. Each handle 33 has connected thereto a pair of sector shaped plates 34 actuating members provided with laterally aligned slots 35. Latch elements 36 provided on opposite sides of the frame, each includes a stop or abutment 37 at one end and at its other end a cam 38 having a cam surface 39. The abutment 37 is also provided with a vertical camming face 40, as best shown in FIGS. 4, and 6. The bracket 27 is suitably connected to support the latch element 36 with said bracket 27 extending laterally and said latch element 36 extending substantially normal with respect thereto. As best shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, a latch member 41 is disposed above the latch element 36 and includes an L-shaped end member 42, shown in FIG. 7, which includes a vertical arm 43 extending upwardly between the sector shaped plates 34. A pin 45 extends transversely, slidingly connecting said arm 43 for movement on said sector plates 34. The latch member 41 includes an elongated portion which is provided at its end with a hook-shaped keeper member or projection 46 having a cam surface 38 and as best shown in FIG. 4 is adapted to engage the abutment 37 to lock the gate 18 in its closed position. The latch member 41, as best shown in FIG. 8, is provided with a pivot pin 47 which is rigidly connected to the wall extension 21 so as to provide for swinging or pivotal movement of the latch member 41 as indicated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. The latch member 41 is also provided with a rear cam face or surface 48 as best shown in FIG. 6 which is adapted to be engaged by the cam surface 39.

As best shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 911, a shaft lock and seal arrangement 49 includes a bracket 50 which is connected to one of the walls 14 and projects outwardly with respect thereto. The bracket 50 supports a channel 51 having upwardly extending flanges 52 and 53 which receive an offset portion 54 of the shaft 31. A plate 55 is connected to the offset portion 54 and includes an aperture 56. As best shown in FIG. 9, the flanges 52 and 53 respectively include openings 58 and 57 through which a pin 59 projects. The pin 59 includes a handle 60 and is provided at one of its ends with a projecting transverse pin 61. The pin 61 is adapted to be rotated into parallel aligned relation with respect to an elongated slot 62 when it is desired to remove the pin 59 from the locked position shown in FIGS. 9-11. The pin 59 also includes an aperture 63 aligned with the aperture 56 of the plate 55 and as shown in FIG. a car seal 64 may be suitably placed through the said apertures 56 and 63.

THE OPERATION In the position shown in FIGS. 1-4, the gate 18 is shown in a locked position. During transit the rod 31 is maintained against rotation by virtue of the locking position of the pin 59 which is retained by the car seal 64. In order to permit the rod 31 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction pin 59 is turned so that the trans- 6 verse pin 61 is in alignment with the slot 62 and the in 59 can be moved outwardly with respect to the wall 52 so that the rod 31 s now free to rotate.

The shaft 23 and operating head 26 function to move the gate 18 to its closed position but it is understood that a similar shaft and operating head are provided at the other end of the frame, as disclosed in the aforementioned patent application, which actuates to open the gate 18 as desired. Before the operating head 26, disposed at the other end of the arrangement, is operated, the operator turns the lever 33 in a counterclockwise direction to the position shown in FIG. 5. The gate 18 may then be moved to an open position. In the position shown in FIG. 5, the latch 41 is held upwardly out of engagement with the latch element 36 since the lever 33 is in an over-center position with respect to a vertical plane through the axis of rotation of the rod 31. As the gate 18 continues to move toward its open position e latch element 36 is moved simultaneously therewith and the camming surface 39 engages the rear cam face of the cross arm 44 as best shown in FIG. 6 whereupon the lever 33, rod 31, and sectors 34 are moved in a clockwise direction and the latch member 41 is pivoted to the position shown in said FIG. 6. In this position the lever 33 is in a gravity drop or over-center position with respect to the vertical plane above described. As the latch element 36 is further moved relative to the iatch member 41, the lever 33 etc. drops again to the position shown in FIG. 4 while the gate 18 has been moved to its open position and is not in locked engagement with said latching member 41. The lever 33 in this position is substantially horizontal and the shaft 31 cannot move further in a clockwise direction since the offset portion 54 prevents such further rotation by virtue of its engagement within the channel-shaped member 51. Thus the latch member 41 is in a position to again latch and lock the gate 18 when it reaches its closed position. This is achieved since the gate when it nears the closed position provides for engagement of the face 40 of abutment 37 with the cam surface 38', best shown in FIG. 6, whereupon the latch member 41 is pivoted about its pivot 47 and raised upwardly just sufficiently so that the stop or abutment 37 can pass underneath the keeper 46 whereupon the weight of the lever 33 and latch member 41 again drops into the position shown in FIG. 4 and the keeper 46 is adapted to keep the abutment 37 and latch element 36 locked.

From the description of the operation therefor, it is readily apparent that opening of the gate 18 merely requires the operator to move the lever 33 to the position shown in FIG. 5 whereupon he is free to efiectuate rotation of the operating shafts 23 without further manual actuation of the lock mechanism. Thus during opening of the gate 18 the latch member 41 is immediately reset in position so that upon closing of the gate the same is accomplished automatically without the need of the operator manually closing the said lock. By this automatic arrangement positive locking is assured avoiding the possibility of a human error which can occur with locks that have to be manually operated when the gate achieves its closed position.

What is claimed is:

l. A hopper discharge gate comprising a frame including vertical walls disposed about a hopper discharge opening,

said walls including horizontal portions projecting inwardly into said opening,

a gate slidingly disposed on said horizontal portions movable horizontally from an open position wherein said gate is disposed to one side of said opening to a closed position beneath said opening,

the improvement including a lock arrangement comprising:

an actuating lever pivotally connected to said frame,

an actuating member connected to said lever for pivotal movement therewith,

a latch member having a keeper projection at one end including a first cam surface,

a second cam surface on the other end of said latch member,

means pivotally mounting said latch member on said frame on an axis parallel to the axis of pivotal movement of said lever whereby said keeper projection may be raised and lowered,

a latch element on said gate including an abutment engagedby said keeper for locking said gate in a closed position,

means connecting said actuating member to said latch member whereby during pivotal movement of said lever to an over-center position said latch member is moved and said keeper is raised and is held out of engagement relative to said abutment of said latch element to permit opening of said gate,

first camming means on said latch element engageable with the second cam surface of said latch member during said opening movement of said gate to move said lever from said over-center position and and said latch member drops by gravity to a re-set closing position, and

second camming means on said latch element engageable with said first cam surface of said latch member during closing movement of said gate for momentarily raising the same and said abutment moves underneath said keeper and to one side thereof, and said keeper and abutment are again inter-locked in said closed position.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1,

said means connecting said actuating member and said latch member including a slotted plate of arcuate configuration.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 1,

said lever in said gravity drop position extending diagonally upwardly from said pivotal connection and to one side of a vertical plane through said pivotal connection.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 3,

said lever in said over-center position being disposed on the other side of said vertical plane, and

said latch element and keeper are moved to an opening position out of engagement with said abutment and said pin is positioned at one end of said arcuate slot.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 4,

said slidable pin in said interlocked position of said latch member and latch element being positioned in the other end of said arcuate slot.

6. The invention in accordance with claim 1,

said pivotal connection for said lever including a rotatable rod extending laterally with respect to said lever,

a seal assembly including a bracket mounted on said said rod having an offset portion thereof contained within said brackets, and

releasable means engaging said of $t portion offset rotation of said rod and pivotal movement of said lever.

7. The invention in accordance with claim 6,

said releasable means and offset portion including apertures adapted to receive a car seal.

8. The invention in accordance with claim 7,

said bracket including a channel shaped member with said offset portion being disposed between flanges of said channel and being retained against movement by said releasable means which includes a pin retained in aligned openings within said flanges. 

1. A hopper discharge gate comprising a frame including vertical walls disposed about a hopper discharge opening, said walls including horizontal portions projecting inwardly into said opening, a gate slidingly disposed on said horizontal portions movable horizontally from an open position wherein said gate is disposed to one side of said opening to a closed position beneath said opening, the improvement including a lock arrangement comprising: an actuating lever pivotally connected to said frame, an actuating member connected to said lever for pivotal movement therewith, a latch member having a keeper projection at one end including a first cam surface, a second cam surface on the other end of said latch member, means pivotally mounting said latch member on said frame on an axis parallel to the axis of pivotal movement of said lever whereby said keeper projection may be raised and lowered, a latch element on said gate including an abutment engaged by said keeper for locking said gate in a closed position, means connecting Said actuating member to said latch member whereby during pivotal movement of said lever to an over-center position said latch member is moved and said keeper is raised and is held out of engagement relative to said abutment of said latch element to permit opening of said gate, first camming means on said latch element engageable with the second cam surface of said latch member during said opening movement of said gate to move said lever from said over-center position and and said latch member drops by gravity to a re-set closing position, and second camming means on said latch element engageable with said first cam surface of said latch member during closing movement of said gate for momentarily raising the same and said abutment moves underneath said keeper and to one side thereof, and said keeper and abutment are again inter-locked in said closed position.
 2. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said means connecting said actuating member and said latch member including a slotted plate of arcuate configuration.
 3. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said lever in said gravity drop position extending diagonally upwardly from said pivotal connection and to one side of a vertical plane through said pivotal connection.
 4. The invention in accordance with claim 3, said lever in said over-center position being disposed on the other side of said vertical plane, and said latch element and keeper are moved to an opening position out of engagement with said abutment and said pin is positioned at one end of said arcuate slot.
 5. The invention in accordance with claim 4, said slidable pin in said interlocked position of said latch member and latch element being positioned in the other end of said arcuate slot.
 6. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said pivotal connection for said lever including a rotatable rod extending laterally with respect to said lever, a seal assembly including a bracket mounted on said frame, said rod having an offset portion thereof contained within said brackets, and releasable means engaging said of $t portion offset rotation of said rod and pivotal movement of said lever.
 7. The invention in accordance with claim 6, said releasable means and offset portion including apertures adapted to receive a car seal.
 8. The invention in accordance with claim 7, said bracket including a channel shaped member with said offset portion being disposed between flanges of said channel and being retained against movement by said releasable means which includes a pin retained in aligned openings within said flanges. 